Torpedo-launching apparatus for submarine boats.



s. LAKE. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY is. 1915.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1915.

Patented Feb, 13, 1917.

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TORPEDO LAUNCHINQ APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE BOATS. APPLICATIOH FILED MAY I5, 1915.

1,215,387. 7 Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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S. LAKE. TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR suBMARmE BOATS.

Patented: Feb. 13, 1917.

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S. LAKE. TORPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE BOATS.-

APPLICATION FILED mAvxs. 19:5.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATET UFFIGE.

SIMON LAKE, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNOR 'TO.-THE'LAKE TORPEDO BOAT COMPANY OF MAINE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS non suerraninn some.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed May 15, 1915. Serial No. 28,363.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, acitizen of the United "States, residing at-Milford, in the countyof New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo- Launching Apparatus for Submarine Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an im- )roved revoluble toroedc dischar 'm an i t: I

paratus for use upon the deck of submarine boats, and relates'particularly to improvements in the constructionf that class of revoluble deck torpedo launching tubes shown and described in Letters Patent No. 949,325, granted tome February 15, 1910. e

The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement to permit loading of the torpedo tubes either from the deck when the boat is lying at the surface of the water, or from the interior of the main hull when the boat is partially or wholly submerged. A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus forsecurely holding the torpedo in the tube so that when the torpedo is launched, it will be held steady thus insuring accuracy of aim, said holding apparatus being automatically released to free the torpedo as the tail of the torpedo leaves the tube The invention consists in arranging a pocket or recess in the top of the main hull of a submarine boat and opening through the sides of the boat,- and in revolubly mounting either single or twi n'torpedo tubes within the pocket or recess, the said tubes'be ing designed for engagement bya longitudinally movable sleeve or tunnel whlch 1s held preferably in the forward vertical wall of. e the recess or pocket, and having a quick opening door for closing the passage through the sleeve, the arrangement being such that when the sleeve or tunnel is adjusted into aidand water-tight contact with the end of the torpedo tube, the quick opening door may be removed to permit the insertion of a torpedo into the tubes from the interior of the boat when the latter is completely' submerged, said. quick opening door serving to seal the sleeves or tunnel airand watertight when the torpedo tubes are rotated to fire a torpedo, means being provided for withorawing the sleeve or tunnel so as to permit the rotation of the tubes. The invention further consists in providing the torpedo tubes with pistons having spoons to which the torpedoes are rigidly clamped, the arrangement-beingsuch that .the clamps are released just prior to the tail of the t'orpedo'leaving the tube, to thus hold the torpedo against deflection by water currents should the torpedoes be launched while the boat is under way. The invention further consists in the peculiar and novel manner of controlling the admission of compressed air to'th'e torpedo tubes; for automatically releasingthe pistons when the launching air is ad1n1tted,'and for rotating the torpedo tubes. i v I These and other features germane thereto, constitute the invention as will be hereinafter fully described and then claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is adiagrammatic vertical longitudinal section of the amidships portion of a submarine or submersible torpedo boat, illustrating the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same drawn on the line aa of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is vertical longitudinal section Yon a larger scale, drawn on the line c0 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the key for locking the torpedo holding bands. Fig. 4 is a transverse section drawn on the line' rZd of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view illustrating one of the clamp bands for holding the torpedo in position to the spoon of the piston. Fig. 6 isan end view of the same. 7 is a horizontal section drawn on the line c'@ of Fig.4. Fig. S is'a plan view of the tubes, one of thctubes being shown partly in section and a portion of-the hull of the boat being also shown in section. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for releasing the pistons when the launching air'is admitted to the tubes. Fig. 10 is a dctail longitudinal section drawn on the line *"f of- Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a face view of the inner end of the longitudinally movable sleeve or tunnel. I V

.1 designates the amidships portion-of a submarine or submersible torpedo boat, and 2 the superstructure built thereon in the usual way. In the top of the main hull is a pocket or recess 3 constructed of a flat bottom 4:, and vertical ends 5, the said pocket being formed, as it were, by cutting a segment from the upper side of the substantially circular hull, it being understood that thelong-itudinal edges of the bottom 4 and the ends 5 are connected airand water-tight in the skin or plating of the main hull. The ends 5 are preferably castings andthe hull below the recess or pocket 3 is divided by transverse partitions or bulkheads 6 to provide a working compartment 6, the said partitions or bulkheads having doorways 6 controlled by suitable doors (not boat as shown at 9. However, this particu-- lar feature of the ballast compartments is well known in'the art, and as it formsno part of the present invention, it is not thought necessary to further describe or illustrate the same.

' Mounted uponthe bottom 4 of the recess or pocket 3 is an annular track 10, upon which is adapted to rotate anti-friction rollers 11 carried at the outer ends of arms extending from a hub 12, loosely mounted upon the upper end of a hollow shaft 13, which extendsdown into the main hull of the boat through a stufling box 13 as will be hereinafter further explained. Upon the rollers 11 is mounted a turntable 14, the same being held in position against displacement by an annular rack 15, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, and upon the turntable is mounted a frame 16 in which is securely held parallelly arranged torpedo expulsion tubes 17, the

upper end of the said hollow shaft 13 being flanged and securely fastened to the base plate 16 of the frame as shown 1n Figs. 3 and 4. Y

The upper member of the frame 16 is provided with a stud 16 which operates in a bearing 18 secured to the lower side of a channel beam 19, securely held to the under side of a horizontal partition 20 whiclnforms the bottom of the superstructure 2 above the recess or pocket 3.

At the lower end of the hollow shaft 13 is a worm wheel 21 mounted thereon, which is designed to be meshed by a worm 22 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which is driven by a suitable electric motor 23, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, I show the invention embodying parallel torpedo tubes 17 although, of course, it will be understood that the same principle may be carried out with only one tube, and as the tubes are exactly alike, I shall describe only one and place the corresponding reference characters to both. In each tube is arranged a piston head 24 having a short cylindrical section 25 from the upper side of which extends a spoon 26, the .latter being formed integral with-the sleeve 25, and providing an extension thereof as shown. The upper side of the spoon 26 is formed with a groove 27, Figs. 3 and 8, in which is held a key 28 (Figs. 3, 3 4 and 5), the forward end of which is designed to fit into loops 29 formed at the free ends of clamping bands 30 of spring plate,which are designed to encircle the torpedo within the tube, and to extend over the top of the spoon 26 to thus clamp the torpedo securely thereto, and to the spoon. -The rear end of the key 28 is provided with a lip 31, Fig. 3 which is designed for engagement by a stoplug 32 fastened to the upper side of the wall of the torpedo tube adjacent to the forward end of the latter. As will be best understood from the general description of the operation of the invention, when a torpedo is expelled from the tube and the piston is, of course, moved forwardly in the tube, the lip 31 of the key 28 will engage the stop-lug 32 to thus arrest the movement of the key 28,

and through the continued movement of the.

torpedo, the loops 29 of the band will be drawn from the key, so that the free ends of the band may spring outwardly and drop free of the torpedo. In practice, I purpose arranging blocks 33 between the under side of the spoon and the torpedo, as shown in Fig. 4, to thus prevent springing or bending the sides of the spoon.

As shown, the rear ends of the torpedo tubes 17 are closed by heads 34 having airpipes 35 connected thereto for supplying air under pressure to expel the torpedoes, as will be hereinafter described. The forward ends of the tubes are provided with flanged rims 36, which are designed for engagement by packing rings 37 carried by flanges 38 formed at the outer ends of longitudinally movable sleeves 39, the said sleeves having worm-teeth 40 formed on their peripheries,

adjacent to their outer ends and which are designed for engagement by worm-teeth. 41 formed interiorly of'the hub sections 42 of gear wheels 43, each of which is rotatably mounted upon stud-bolts 44 screwed into the outer face of the end castings 5 of the pocket or recess and which pass through slots formed in said wheel (Figs. 10 and 11). The teeth of each gear wheel 43 are meshed by a drive pinion 45, each pinion being carried at the outer end of a shaft 46 journaled in a sleeve provided with a stuffing-box 46 formed upon the forward casting 5, each shaft having its inner end squared to receive a crank handle 47, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 10. It is obvious that a hand wheel may be employed for rotating the shaft 46 instead of the crank handle 47.

The outer end of each sleeve or tunnel 39 is formed with a rim having an inwardly extending flange 48 which is designed for engagement by a gasket 49 carried upon the outer face of a door 50, employed for closrotating when the wheels the gland ing' the outer ends of the sleeves or tunnels 39. Each door is formed with a hub 51 upon which is rotatably mounted a hub of a wheel 52 having a notched periphery providin'g series of lugs 53, which are beveled and designed for engagement with beveled lugs 54 formed upon the inner wall of its sleeve or tunnel 39, the wheels 52 and the doors 50 being provided with beveled lugs 54 and 55, respectively, which serve the purpose to force the door forwardly so that the gasket 49 will engage the flange 48 of the sleeve or tunnel, as will be hereinafter further described.

As shown, each sleeve or tunnel 39 operates in a collar 56 formed upon the inner face of the forward casting 5, and is formed with a stuffing-box 57. The wall of the sleeve is provided with oppositely disposed internal grooves 58 to receive a bar 59 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 10 and 11,- which bar serves as a fulcrum fora lever 59, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10), which is employed for rotating the wheels to thus force the doors 50 tightly to their seats, it being understood that the door is first inserted within its sleeve or tunnel 39, by hand, and

artially rotated so as to bring the lugs 53 back of the edges of the lugs 54, the bar 59 5 8, and the positioned upon the bar so that the free end of the lever may be inserted under one of the spokes of the wheel 52 to thus rotate the latter, and to thereby exert sufficient power to cause the gasket 49 to be brought up airand water-tight against the flange 48 to thus prevent ingress of water to the main hull of the boat when the sleeve 39 is withdrawn from the flange 36 of the tube.

is then inserted in the grooves lever is then The hub 51 of each door 50 is formed with a bore 60, the inner end of each of which is controlled by a stop-cock 61, and in the outer end of each is screwed a vent tube 62 which serves to vent the tube when the water taken into the tube (after the discharge of a torpedo) is withdrawn, and when the tube has been adjusted back into position for engagement with the sleeve or tunnel 39, as will also be hereinafter explained.

As previously stated, when the pinion 45 is rotated, the wheel 43 will be operated to adjust the sleeve or tunnel forwardly or backwardly, and in order to prevent the sleeve from rotating, I provide the outer end of each sleeve or tunnel 39 and the inner wall of its gland 57 with grooves to receive a key 64.v It will be evident that by thus connecting the sleeve or tunnel 39 with the gland 57 the sleeves will be prevented from 43 are operated, it being understood that the gland 57 will be prevented from rotating by the bolts 63 (Fig. 11), employed for forcing and holding in place. As shown most clearly ports are surrounded by air in F ig. 4, the hollow shaft 13 has formed preferably integrally therewith, an inner tube 65 and a tube 66 surrounding the tube 65, thus providing an air channel 67, and a surrounding air channel 68, the said spaces 67 and 68 being connected adjacent to the upper ends thereof, to air conducting tubes 69 and 70, respectively, the outer or rear end of each of which is connected to a valve casing 71, one of which is shown in Fig. 9, l and from each valve casing extends an air pipe 35 which extends to one of the heads 34 of the torpedo tubes. WVithin each valve casing is a spring seated valve 72, the stem 73 of which extends upwardly through the head of the valve casing and has its upper end arranged for engagement with a crank arm 74 (Figs. 8 and 9), carried at the outer end of a rock shaft 75 upon each of which is mounted a crank arm or link 76, which in turn has its free end connected to a lockingpin 77 which is designed to fit into a recess formed in the sleeve 25 of the piston of the respective tubes. By this arrangement, as air is admitted to the torpedo tubes, the valve 72 will be first lifted to thus rock the shaft 75 to withdraw the pin 77 from the recess of its piston 25 to thus permit the latter to be moved forwardly as the air enters the rear end of the torpedo tube.

The lower ends of the air spaces 67 and 68 communicate respectively, with ports 7 8 and 79, which extend through the wall of the hollow shaft 13, and these openings or chambers 80 and 81, respectively, mounted upon suitable brackets extending from the horizontal pa'r tition 8, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4. The air chambers 80 and 81 are connected by supply pipes 82 extending from suitable source of high pressure air supply (not shown), and are provided with control valves 83. The upper and lower walls of the air chambers 80 and 81 are formed with stuflingboxes to prevent escape of air around the openings through which the hollow shaft 13 extends.

The upper end of the hollow shaft 13 is provided with laterally extending branches 84 having their outer ends flanged and secured to the lower face of the base 16 of the frame 16 and surrounding an opening therein and opposite which are arranged openings 85 formed in the lower side of the torpedo tubes. These pipes, as well as the space formed by the tube 66 and the wall of the hollow shaft 13, provide drains for draining the water admitted to the tube when a torpedo is discharged, and adjacent to the lower end of the hollow shaft 13 is arranged a partition 86 having an opening 87 which is controlled by a valve 88 operated by a hand lever 89 as shown, the valve 88 serving to hold the water within the tubes until it is desired to drain the same. The

.the handling tubes to discharge lower end of the hollow shaft 13 is connected by a drain pipe 13 which may lead to the ballast-tank 8 or to one of the trimmingtanks of the boat, or it may be connected to a suitable pump for forcing the water drained from the tubes to any particular ballast or trim tank of the boat.

The side walls of the recess or pocket 3 are normally closed by outwardly swinging doors 3', as shown in Fig. 2, any suitable mechanism (not shown) being employed for controlling the position of the doors, this feature, however, forms no part of the present invention, and attention is invited to the construction shown in my said Patent No. 949,325.

90 designates a trolley track to facilitate of the torpedoes from within the interior of the boat when the said torpedoes are being loaded into the tubes when the boat is submerged.

The pistons are prevented from leaving the torpedo tubes by means of cushioning bands 91 held in the tubes adjacent to their forward ends, the said bands having slots 92 to receive bolts 93 uponthe outer ends of which are screwed clamping nuts 94 between which and the torpedo tubes, are held gaskets 95. 'In practice, the nuts will be screwed up sufliciently tight to permit the bands to yield when struck by the forward end of the pistons.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

We will assume that the boat is submerged and the torpedoes have been expelled from the tubes. The tubes are then swung around into longitudinal alinement with the sleeves or tunnels 39, the shafts 46 are then rotated to operate the wheels 43 which operate to force the sleeves or tunnels outwardly so that the packing-rings 37 are brought up into water-tight engagement with the flanges 36 of the torpedo tubes. The valves 61 are then opened to vent-the tubes after which the valve 88 is opened so as to drain the tubes of the water contained therein. The valve 88 is then closed. The wheels 52 are then rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 11, to disengage the lugs 54 to thus permit the said wheels and the doors 50 to be withdrawn from the sleeves or tunnels, to thus open the ends of the tubes. Torpedoes are then inserted in the tubes through the sleeves or tunnels 39, from within the main hull the doors 50 are put back in place and the V of the boat, after which wheels 52 inserted in the sleeves 39 and looked as previously described. The tubes are then ready for repeated operation and firing. -When it is desired to adjust the from either side of the boat, the shafts 46 are operated so as to cause the sleeves or tunnels 39 to be withdrawn from engagement with the ends of the tubes.

The motor 23 is then operated to rotate the shaft 13 and the tubes 17 to the desired position. Now, when the command to fire either torpedo isgiven, the valve 83, controllingthe air under pressure to either torpedo tube, is opened to permit the air to rush through its air chamber 80 or 81, and up through its respective communicating air pipe into the rear end of the tube, back of the piston. As the air passes through the tube 69 or 70, as the casemay be, it will first lift the respective valve 72 to thus release the piston before the air reaches the torpedo tube. The moment the air enters the tube, its piston will be forced forwardly to thus forcibly shove the torpedo from its tube, and as the lip 31 of the key will engage the stop lug 32, carried by the torpedo tube to thus arrest the movement of the key, so that, during the continued movement of the torpedo the loops of the spring band 30 will be drawn off the end of the key and when thus freed the band will spring open and drop clear of the torpedo. On a continued movement of the piston the forward edge of the cylinder 25 thereof, will strike against the cushioning-ring and its movement is thus arrested. Now, when the torpedo has been expelled, water will rush into the tube and thus force the piston back into the rear end of the tube, and in order to permit this movement to be performed automatically, I provide the valves 7 2 with vent ports 72 which are controlled by flap valves 72 secured to the lower side of the valves 72, which will permit the air back of the pistons to be forced from the tubes, it being understood that after a torpedo has been fired from a tube the valve 83 controlling the admission of the expulsion air to the tube is closed and the pressure of the sea-water against the forward end of the pistons will be sufficient to force the latter backwardly into its tube, and in order to vent the tubes back of the pistons and thus permit the escape of the compressed air remaining in the tubes, I provide the casings and 81 with vents controlled by valves 80 as shown in Fig. 4.

In loading the torpedo tubes when the boat is lying at the surface, the pistons of the tubes are forced forwardlyby admitting air under pressure to the tubes, back of the pistons, in the same manner as described with respect to the loading of the tubes from the interior of the boat, and in practice I purpose connecting the vent valves 80 of the casings 80 and 81 either to a vacuum tank (not shown) or to a vacuum pump (not shown), so that when the valves 80 are opened, the compressed air back of the pistons will be immediately withdrawn from the tubes to thus permit the pistons to be readily shoved back into the tubes.

It will thus be seen that the device is exceedingly simple and permits of the loading of the tubes from within the main hull of the boat when the latter is operating either upon or below the surface of the water.

In loading a torpedo into the torpedo tube from within the interior of the main hull of the boat, it will be understood that the torpedo tubes will be adjusted into longitudinal alinement with the sleeves or tunnels 39 and the latter locked into engage-- ment with the tubes, the doors 50 are then removed, and air under pressure admitted to the breech end of the torpedo tubes to force the pistons forwardly with the spoons of the pistons extending through the said sleeves or tunnels into the boat. The tail of a torpedo is then extended into a tube and a locking band, (of which a supply is carried in the boat), is adjusted around the tor pedo and locked by the key 28. The air back of the piston having, in the meantime, been released so that when the torpedo is locked to its spoon, it may be easily pushed into its tube.

While I have shown only one end of the recess or pocket provided with, what may be termed, loading openings, it is obvious that both ends thereof may be thus con structed so as to permit the loading of torpedoes within the tubes from either end of the pocket, thus avoiding the necessity of carrying a torpedo from one end of the boat to the other. As this will be obvious to any one skilled in the art pertaining to submarine boats, it is not thought necessary to dwell in detail upon this feature of the invention. It will also be understood by arranging the air chambers 80 and 81 as shown, that the air tubes, or passages, connected thereto will be in open communication with the said chambers, irrespective of the position of the torpedo tubes.

100 (Fig. 3), designates tripping pawls pivotally connected tothe spoons of the pis tons of the torpedo tubes, designed for tripping the starting gear of the propelling mechanism of the torpedoes the moment the torpedoes are released from the spoons. The tripping levers 100 are automatically operating so that when a. torpedo is inserted into position and into locked engagement with its spoon, the pawls will drop back of the tripping levers of the torpedoes to thus operate the said levers the moment the torpedoes are released.

While I have particularly described an arrangement best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A submarine boat having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, means located at one end of said recess or pocket for closing the muzzle end of said tube to permit the loading of the tube from within the hull of the boat when the boat is submerged, and means for operating said closing means.

2. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof open to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, a closure for the muzzle end of the torpedo discharging tube when said tube is housed with in its recess or pocket, means operable from within the main hull for operating said closure whereby to render said tube water-tight to permit the loading of said tube from within the main hull, and means for closing the loading opening water-tight prior to the adjustment of the tube to firing position.

3. In a submarine boat, a revoluble tor-' pedo discharging tube mounted thereon, means operable from within the boat for closing the muzzle end of said torpedo tube water-tight to permit the loading of said tube from within the boat when the boat is submerged, and means also operable from Within the boat for closing the loading opening of the boat prior to the adjustment of said torpedo discharging tube into discharging or firing position.

4. In a submarine boat, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted thereon, means carried by and operable from within the main hull of the boat for closing the muzzle end of the said torpedo discharging tube to permit the loading of said tube when the boat is completely submerged, and means for supplying air under pressure to said tube for expelling its charge after said tube has been adjusted into firing position.

5. In a submarine boat, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted thereon, a piston operating in said tube having a spoon, and means for locking a torpedo to said spoon, said locking means being releasable when said piston reaches the end of its stroke, substantially as specified.

6. A submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, a sleeve or tunnel movable longitudinally through one of the walls of said recess or pocket for closing the muzzle end of the tube water-tight to permit the loading of a torpedo in thetube from within the main hull, means for closing water-tight the said sleeve or tunnel, for the purpose specified, and means for operating said sleeve or tunnel.

7. A submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull provided with vertical ends, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, a

sleeve or tunnel longtudinally movable through one of said vertical ends adapted for closing water-tight the muzzle end of said torpedo tube, means for closing said sleeve or tunnel Water-tight, and means for ad justing the said sleeve or. tunnel into and out of engagement with said torpedo tube.

8. A submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull provided with vertical ends, said recess or pocket being opened to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, doors for closing the sides of said recess or pocket, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, means operable through one of the ends of said recess or pocket for closing the muzzle end of the tube water-tight to permit of a torpedo be ing loaded into the tube from within the main hull of the boat, means for closing the loading opening'water-tight, for, the purpose specified, and means for revolving said torpedo tube.

9. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof and having vertical ends, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, a sleeve or tunnel longitudinally movable through one of the ends of said recess or pocket adapted for closing the muzzle end of said torpedo tube water-tight, said sleeve or tunnel having peripheral worm-teeth, a gear having worm-teeth adapted to mesh the teeth of said sleeve or tunnel, a pinion operable from within the boat for operating said gear Wheel, a door for closing the said sleeve or tunnel watertight,-for the purpose specified, a piston operating in said torpedo tube having a spoon extending therefrom, automatically releasable means for looking a torpedo held within the tube tosaid spoon, means for locking the piston in the rear end of said torpedo tube, means to supply air under pressure to the breech end of said torpedo tube back of.

said piston, and a valve interposed in said air supply means for releasing said piston prior to the admission of the compressed air to said tube.

10. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof, a torpedo discharging tube revolubly mounted in said pocket or recess and having vertical ends, a sleeve or tunnel movable longitudinally through one of said ends andadapted for closing water-tight the muzzle end of the said tube, for the purpose specified, a door for closing the said sleeve or tunnel water-tight, means for locking the door in closed position, and means operable from within the boat for operating said sleeve.

11. In a submarine boat, having a pocket or recess in the main hull thereof provided with vertical ends, said recess being open to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, a torpedo discharging tube revolubly mounted in said recess or pocket, means for closing the muzzle end of said torpedo tube to permit the loading of a torpedo in said tube from within the main hull of the boat, a piston operating in said tube, said piston having a spoon, automatically releasable holding means for holdlng a torpedo to the spoon, and means to supply discharging air to the breech end of the torpedo back of said piston.

I 12. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, means for closing the muzzle end of said torpedo tube whereby to permit the loading of a torpedo into said tube from within the main hull of the boat, means for closing said loading opening water-tight, for the purpose specified, a piston operating in said torpedo tube having a spoon formed therewith, spring bands for locking the torpedo to said spoon, means carried by the spoon for holding said bands in locked position, locking means for holding the piston in the rear end of the tube, means to supply air under pressure to the breech end of said torpedo tube to discharge the torpedo, and means interposed in said air supply means for releasing the locking means of the piston.

13. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof open to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, said recess or pocket having vertical ends, a torpedo discharging tube revolubly mounted in said recess or pocket, means for revolving said tube, a longitudinally movable sleeve or tunnel for closing the muzzle end of the tube airand watertight to permit the loading of the tube from within the main hull of the boat, means for adjustingsaid sleeve or tunnel into and out of en agement with said torpedo tube, a door for closing said sleeve or tunnel prior to the adjustment of the said sleeve or tunnel from engagement with said torpedo tube, a piston operating in said tube, said piston having a spoon extending therefrom, means for holding a torpedo to said spoon, means carried by said spoon for releasing the said holding means, and means for conducting air under pressure to the breech end of said torpedo tube back of said piston.

14;. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof open to the surrounding body of water when the boat is submerged, said recess or pocket having substantially vertical ends, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted in said recess or pocket, means for closing watertight the muzzle end of said tube when the latter is housed Within said recess or pocket, for the purpose specified, means operable from within the boat for rotating the said the breech end of said tube back carried by said door and torpedo discharging tube, a piston operating in said torpedo tube having a spoon extending therefrom, automatically releasable means for holding a torpedo to said spoon, means for supplying air under pressure to of said piston, and a drain connected to said torpedo tube.

15. In a submarine boat, having a recess or pocket in the main hull thereof open to thesurrounding body of Water when the boat is submerged, a torpedo discharging tube revolubly mounted in said recess or pocket, means for revolving said tube, a 1011 gitudinally movable sleeve or tunnel operat ing through one end of said recess adapted for sealing the muzzle end of said torpedo tube whereby to permit loading of a torpedo in said tube from Within the main hull of the boat, a door for closing said sleeve Water-tight, for the purpose specified, means operable from Within the boat for adjusting said sleeve or timnel into and out of engagement With said torpedo tube, a vent adapted, for the purpose specified, a drain connected to said torpedo tube, andmeans for conducting air under pressure to the breech end of said torpedo tube to discharge a torpedo held therein.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the 16. In a submarine boat, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted thereon, a piston operating in said torpedo tube having 'a spoon extending therefrom, automatically releasable locking means for holding a torpedo to the spoon, and means for supplying air under pressure to the breech end of the torpedo tube back of the piston to discharge the torpedo held in the tube.

17. In a submarine boat, a revoluble torpedo discharging tube mounted thereon, a piston operating in said tube having a spoon extending therefrom, automatically releasable means for holding a torpedo to said spoon, comprising a spring band having its free ends provided with loops, a key carried by the spoon adapted to pass through said loops for holding the band in position, and a stop carried by the torpedo tube for an resting the movement of the key to permit the band to be Withdrawn from said key, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I my hand this 7 th day of have hereunto set May, A. D. 1915.

SIMON LAKE.

7 CARL F. DAVIS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

